Canadian PM Hands Over Erdoğan's Gifted Pistol to Federal Police

In an unprecedented event, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney presented a pistol loaded with live ammunition to the federal police after receiving it as a commemorative gift from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

This occurred during the NATO summit held in Ankara, according to a Canadian television network.

Sources indicated that the firearm was handed over to members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police responsible for protecting the Prime Minister, while the ammunition was decided to remain in Turkey. The source explained that procedures will later include disabling the pistol to render it incapable of firing, preparing it for placement in a Canadian museum. It was confirmed that Carney will not keep the weapon for personal use.

The Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the Turkish President distributed pistols with live ammunition as gifts to all leaders participating in the summit.

Press reports revealed that President Erdoğan presented engraved pistols loaded with live rounds to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and several European Union leaders as commemorative gifts at the conclusion of the summit.

The NATO summit took place in the Turkish capital Ankara on July 7 and 8.